Invigorating architecture

Designer creates openness and transparency with contemporary Japanese influences

The garage is situated on the ground floor with direct access to the home.

Photograph by: Robert J. Galbraith
, Montreal Gazette

"Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.

There beneath the blue suburban skies."

The above Beatles lyrics refer to Penny Lane in Liverpool, but they could easily have been singing about Le Plateau Mont Royal. This district is one of those vibrant and colourful regions of Montreal that invigorates and stimulates the senses with its diverse, tasteful architecture, great shopping and inviting cafés and bistros.

Now there is a new property being listed by Sotheby's International Realty Quebec which is upping the ante in contemporary architecture in that borough.

That domicile, designed and built in 2010-2011 by the award-winning architectural and design firm naturehumaine is located at 4614 rue Boyer, just north of Mont-Royal.

Listed for sale at $1,097,500, the three-storey cottage (with mezzanine and finished basement) features 1,800-square feet of living space, three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 16-foot ceilings and three terraces.

"Originally, there was a mechanics garage on the property and the owner at the time wanted a house built. There was enough land to permit us to build a small house but we had to abide by local zoning laws which came with many restraints," said architect Stephane Rasselet, co-founder (with Marc-André Plasse) of naturehumaine (naturehumaine.com). "So we worked out something to allow us to build a house while optimizing the space."

Rasselet's influences in the architecture of the Boyer property combined a little concept from here, and a little concept from there. But a main influence is Japanesestyle design.

"I like contemporary Japanese architecture. They build very small, tight buildings in small constrained spaces while optimizing the space."

The architect explained that there was a simplicity they wanted to keep in the house because they didn't have a particular client they were building for.

"We wanted fluidity, and since we were restricted by space, we positioned the stairwells in the home to use the least space. We treated the staircase like an origami sculpture so it bends and becomes a sculptural element in the house."

His philosophy of design in the home's interior was: "For openness and transparency from space to space, especially on the third floor and mezzanine."

In terms of overall colour schemes he decided to stay in white and charcoal while using a touch of colour, with different yellows and greens, to add contrast and give a focus to the spaces.

"This way it is also easier for the new owners to change the colour scheme if they want to change it."

He used huge Alumilex tiltand-turn windows, skylights and white spaces to expand the size. These factors also provide for great luminosity. Different ceiling levels also add to the sense of openness.

The flooring and stairwell are made of maple and cherry wood to give the home a clean, rich and natural feeling. There is a Nordic or Quakerlike atmosphere to the property. The interior appears open, but definitely not empty.

On the third floor, pivoting panels with a mirrored side allow the owner to direct sunlight from the south side of the building to the north side.

"On this street this style of structure is rare because everything is filled-in and one-dimensional from the street level, whereas, in this case, we had a chance to make a house that is visible on three sides. The house was made to resemble a little jewel or sculptural object," described Rasselet.

The exterior shell uses brick (a pre-requisite of the city ordinance), galvanized steel panel and cement fibre board. The brick front has very small metal nuggets infused into it and in different light it reflects different tones, from dark red to a dark grey-blue.

There is a kind of industrial-chic look to the outside building, influenced by the neighbouring back-alley storage sheds and fire escapes that date back to the early '30s.

These use a patchwork of different sidings, and by using galvanized steel in the back west-facing side of the Boyer residence; it reflects more light into a formerly subdued, dark area.

The three outdoor terraces offer a choice of quiet places to relish a warm coffee and croissant and surf the Net, or just plain chill out.

"The fact that we played with three different terraces allowed us to create a bigger sense of space, and for somebody who likes to grow plants, it's great. You can also grow a small Zen garden on the roof."

The garage is attached, heated, single width and has direct access to the inside home, and in an area short on parking spaces, this is a great relief, especially in winter.

All kitchen appliances are top quality GE Monogram stainless steel appliances. It also features quartz counters and Italian fittings.

The master bedroom has radiant floors and the ensuite bathroom has an extra-large bath with a separate shower, body jet, rain shower and a terrace. A nice feature is the heat lamp system installed just outside and above the shower stall. Even on the chilliest days, this lamp system will keep you toasty-warm after your morning shower. There are also radiant floors in the finished basement.

According to real estate broker Cyrille Girard, (representing Sotheby's International Realty, Quebec): "This residence has a condo finishing in a contemporary cottage. It has a beautiful presence, especially at night with all the lighting details and its huge and long windows. But besides its beauty, location, location and location is perhaps its strongest attraction," said the broker. "You are within walking distance to every part of the Plateau."

Girard compares this style of contemporary development with the trendy new area of the Tower Bridge district in London.

"It's super trendy; more European, totally Londonish," he explained.

"The Plateau is really a changing and welcoming neighbourhood."

For more information contact Cyrille Girard of Sotheby's International Realty, Quebec. cgirard 514-582-2810

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